Funeral service for Esther Ekholm 87 of Mobridge, SD will be 11 AM Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Kesling Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Saturday, starting at 9AM at the funeral home. Esther passed away Jan 5, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Mobridge.

Esther Ekholm was born February 28, 1927 to Gustave and Marie (Krischenowski) Barth in McPherson County, SD. She graduated from Bowdle High School in 1945 and shortly thereafter moved to Mobridge and became employed at the Brown Palace Hotel and MDU. Her other jobs included working for 1st National Bank and Citizens Bank of Mobridge as well as being employed at the Mobridge Clinic for years. While working at the Brown Palace Hotel, she met Gerald Ekholm who worked for the railroad. They were married June 9, 1951 in Mobridge.

Esther and Jerry provided full time care for a quadriplegic gentleman, Henry Mayer, for a number of years in their home. When Henry passed away, Esther went to work for Stoick's Super Value as well as being a caretaker of numerous graves at Greenwood Cemetery.

Esther always enjoyed her weekend trips back to Bowdle to see her family. She was always ready to help her family in any way she could.

Esther's world changed drastically when Jerry passed away April 4, 1998. She never fully recovered from that loss. Although she would always laugh and giggle when she would meet you, her life had lost its luster. She hid this very well from all of us.

Esther had been residing at the Golden Living Center since January 12, 2009, and passed away on January 5, 2015.

She is survived by a brother; Ernest Barth of Pierre and numerous nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Lenora Gross and a brother Neil Barth.